Letters: Jun. 23, 1961

Mr. Conservative

Sir:

The comments of Senator Goldwater [June 16] and his disciples frighten the hell out of me. His suicidal ideas would have led him to martyrdom and glory had he existed during the revolutionary period, but in 1961 they are as out of place as Liz Taylor at a Tupperware* party.

Perhaps he prefers death to a Communist-dominated world. Political ideologies have flourished and died. Can we, with any serious thought, assume that democracy or Communism is the ultimate goal of existence ?

Why must Senator Goldwater endanger the whole human race in his eagerness to preserve a minute segment of political belief as practiced these past few hundred years. Peaceful enforcement of ideals does not denote weakness. If democracy is the best form of government, then its mere being should ensure its future.

MILDRED L. COULTER

San Francisco

Sir:

The U.S. has lately presented the incongruous figure of a Milquetoast engaged in a street brawl. Unwilling to dirty its hands, it has allowed itself to be pushed into the gutter by the left and right of Laos and Cuba. Eventually we will be surely beaten if we do not fight back.

“Talk softly and carry a big stick” has been replaced by “Scream loudly and brandish your toothpick!” We like peace as well as anyone, but not at the price of our respect and integrity.

For these reasons, we are inclined to support Senator Goldwater’s proposals for dealing with Communism as expounded in his The Conscience of a Conservative. It seems to us that a cover story on Senator Goldwater and his proposals would not be out of place, given the present state of affairs.

MR. AND MRS. PAUL N. MARSTON

Tucson, Ariz.

¶ Good idea.—ED.

Top of the Heap

Sir:

Of the twelve “most awesome, brilliant, scholarly boys and girls being produced by U.S. colleges in 1961” [June 16], I notice that over half are planning careers involving college teaching. It is fine that such a proportion of these brilliant students plan lives of scholarship and academic service. What, I wonder, could we do to make such people interested in high school teaching?

SAMUEL WITHERS Administrative Director

Council for Basic Education

Washington

Sir:

I was very much impressed by your article “Top of the Heap.” I was particularly elated over John Vaio, who, it was stated, learned Latin, Greek, French and some Chinese on his own.

At my age of 15, I find it very impressive, for I am going into my second year of Latin and first year of Spanish, and I realize how hard an accomplishment like that is.

I hope that I can gain as much knowledge as Mr. Vaio, and some day maybe even appear in an article such as this.

JAMES SHULMAN

Hartford, Conn.

The-Marriage-Having-Gone-Round

Sir:

We were married three weeks ago for $15 (minister: $5, license: $10). After reading “The Marriage-Go-Round” [June 16], we seriously wonder if for so little cost our marriage is legal ?

PATRICIA ANNE AND JOHN SCHAEFFER

Chicago

Sir:

As one of the unoriginal 195,000 who are ending all mystery this wedding month of June, I took special note and interest in your “Marriage-Go-Round” potpourri. Although it vibrated with the typical waves of TIME’S sophism and sophistication, I enjoyed the article, thinking of the contrast between the week after and the week before, which you so rosily described.

How about a July commentary—”The Marriage -Having -Gone -Round.” That’s when our cakes have been eaten and our champagne is beer. But still we will always have TIME’S frosting. And I don’t know whether to lick it or not.

SHEILA HORGAN

Cambridge, Mass.

A Matter of Morale

Sir:

Your story “A Matter of Morale” [June 16] was amusing, interesting and factual—and you shouldn’t ought to have done it. Curt LeMay doesn’t like us anyway, and now that he knows that we live almost as well as the demigods of the Strategic Air Command, there will be hell to pay.

For all its luxury, life at Gulfport Field differs little from life on any other resort-area Air Force installation. Most of us live on base, in hot concrete-block barracks, sleep between rough sheets and pounds of sand, eat G.I. fare from tin trays at the broiling-hot mess hall, and pull our share of K.P., some of it in 16-hour shifts.

Most of the fellows have no other vacation, and all of us put in eight hours a day. I’m not complaining. I’m in the Guard because I want to be, and I like Gulfport. But the taxpayer is getting his dollar’s worth. (A/1c) WESLEY PRUDEN JR.

123rd Air Base Group

Arkansas Air National Guard

Memphis

Sir:

Lest your readers think all National Guard summer encampments are similar to that of the Louisiana Air National Guard’s 159th Fighter Group, I suggest that you visit my unit at Camp Curtis Guild, Reading, Mass.

Come early, and we’ll treat you to four days and four nights of bivouac in a local state forest, where you will sleep under the stars, share your Army rations with our insect hosts, and observe our training day, which runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. But don’t bring any party paraphernalia. A pup tent gets kind of crowded when a hi-fi set and a couple of deck chairs are installed.

PAUL J. MOZZICATO Colonel, 211 Artillery Group

Massachusetts Army National Guard

Charlestown, Mass.

Riches to Riches

Sir:

I am weary of the riches-to-riches story in which a millionaire’s son triples Daddy’s fortune [June 16]. There would be something radically wrong with Junior if he couldn’t increase that money.

How about a riches-to-rags cover story in some future edition of TIME ?

MRS. JOHN CHIARIELLO

Elba, N.Y.

Sir:

Another first for Texas and the Clan Murchison—a unique manure! Here, in America’s Rhineland, our Angus provide us with tons of the stuff. When it is heaped in the barn, no one’s nose is offended. When it is spread through the vineyards, the effluvium floats for miles. Perhaps the Murchisons will be luckier in financial maneuvers than in choosing metaphors.

MARY JANE FABER

Hammondsport, N.Y.

Democracy & Retirement

Sir:

Your nostalgic story about Dwight Eisenhower in the June 9 issue was a good one. Ike, after being in the public eye for nearly two decades, is now in the hearts of people almost everywhere. I find it amusing to compare him with the leaders of many parts of the world: as a heartbreaking rule, they don’t retire; and if they do, it is either to the sempiternal fire that is supposed to be raging somewhere overhead, or to the carnal clubs of Paris and Rome.

Democracy is indeed an exquisite thing, especially, of course, to those who can’t practice it.

M. TAGI

Kuwait

Blue Laws

Sir:

Thank you for your excellent summation of the blue laws controversy [June 9]. I cannot understand the unusually narrow attitude of the Supreme Court on this issue. Permitting people to perform their jobs on Sunday will not harm the majority, yet forcing everyone to follow these customs does harm the minority. The recent Supreme Court decisions violate two basic American principles: separation of church and state, and protection of the rights of the minority.

NANCY SPECTOR

Merrick, N.Y.

Sir:

I see the blue laws as a dictation of the type of “family activity” in which one may engage. When the husband works the other days of the week, a very enjoyable family activity for a Sunday is to go down as a family to the discount houses, look around, and maybe even come away with something. On what other day can the family as a whole leisurely shop ?

M. McHENRY

Angwin, Calif.

Monique’s Musician

Sir:

I enjoyed reading your recent article on Al Hirt I June 9], the jazz trumpeter. I pride myself on being steadily employed as a singer and an actress, but I pride myself even more highly on something else. And that is that I “discovered” Al Hirt.

Two and one-half years ago, my husband, Gerard W. Purcell, and I were vacationing in New Orleans. Since my husband was ill with a cold, I accompanied a party of friends to the “Pier 600” nightclub to hear a trumpet player my friends were enthusiastic about. I was so thrilled with Al’s artistry on the horn that I phoned my husband, and urged him: “Please come down to hear this trumpet player. He’s the greatest !”

My husband forgot about his cold, came down to see Al perform. Jerry eventually persuaded Al to leave his Dixieland environment and signed him to a personal contract. Al has now performed in principal cities throughout the U.S. and Europe, and has won acclaim in all of them.

MONIQUE VAN VOOREN

New York City

Well-Planned Invasion

Sir:

I feel compelled to comment on your articles about Jacqueline Kennedy’s “conquest” of Europe.

Mrs. Kennedy proved to most of the world what it has been saying all along—that Americans have no concern with the real values of civilization, that we are only conscious of the materialistic.

The Other Mrs. K., in her severe and un-chic dress, appeared to millions of the underprivileged as a true helpmeet to a husband who is trying to “help” the world with the panacea of Communism.

GEORGE H. HOLSTEN JR.

Metuchen, N.J.

Sir:

Re your inane statement that the U.S. has a “queen”: may I remind your obsequious reporter that the real “queens” of the U.S. are all the average gals who manage to look damned attractive without benefit of limitless funds, makeup artists, personal hairdressers, jewels, Cassini and/or Givenchy.

REGINA SACKS

Orange, Calif.

Sir:

May I say simply that one American housewife was terribly proud of Mrs. Kennedy. I think it’s marvelous that we have a First Lady blessed with grace, intelligence and the ability to delight heads of state and whole nations with her femininity.

CLAIRE LABINE

New York City

Sir:

After reading your detailed account of Jacqueline’s trip, I could only wish that the invasion of Cuba had been half as well planned as Jackie’s invasion of Paris.

THOMAS P. WINBORNE

Cincinnati

* At which plastic kitchenware is demonstrated and sold.